There has been an interesting flood of news regarding military developments between east and west during the last several weeks. None of that news is good and has great implications for the United States and her territories including Puerto Rico.

Vladimir Putin has been testing the limits of his military with invasions of Crimea and ‘test’ nuclear bombing runs over U.S. territories including Guam. This week a Russian fighter jet nearly collidedwith a US spy plane over international airspace. Joint U.S. and NATO war games a have coincided with Russian war games near the Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.

On the other side of Asia, China is stepping up its military in a very fast and very determined manner with the primary intention being a conflict with the United States over Taiwan and with regional foes over access to and ownership of resources in the South China Sea. The military buildup has put the Chinese in the arena of the world’s top Navies with over 300 surface ships and submarines and new expensive and dangerous weapons.

It doesn’t help that china is also developing hyper-sonic long range missiles and supersonic anti-surface ship missiles and have already deployed an anti-aircraft carrier ballistic missile. China’s build up and Russia’s aggressiveness are for a decidedly specific purpose: to engage and take down the United States and all of her territories.

Yes, Puerto Rico; that includes you.

In many ways, the military cooperation between the two eastern superpowers is a shadow version of the Reagan cold war strategy. Rapid military build up aimed at forcing the other side to build up in such a way to destroy their economy. It is a thoughtful plan that can only be executed when the other country is already weakened as in the case of the former USSR.

While China may have other motives; the return of Taiwan and control of the region, it is still using good old fashioned American capitalism to get the job done. While China remains a communist country, their economic system is now state capitalism and it is working.

The U.S. meanwhile, burdened by a staggering 18 trillion dollar debt and 61 trillion dollar total debt (and major defense cut backs) cannot match the build up ship for ship or plane for plane against one of these superpowers, much less both. By engaging the US in eastern Europe, Russia is keeping America busy and worried enough to keep them off the focus of China’s next move.

The U.S. is further weakened by the inconsistencies of the Obama administrations foreign policy. The U.S. has alienated its most critical allies under Obama while setting up friendship ties with the world’s worst countries namely Iran and Cuba. Although one might wonder, if the Obama administrations decision to open up to Cuba and Iran may actually be a part of a Cold War type strategy to build relationships to offset the influence of Russia.

Either way, Puerto Rico as a territory or state of the United States risks becoming directly involved in any war that may develop. With no military installations of any significant size left on the island, Puerto Rico would have a very difficult time defending itself in the case of all out war.

While independence has been traditionally supported by communist forces, ( this author is a conservative/libertarian and proud capitalist) an independent and constitutionally declared neutral Puerto Rico would be the only way to save the lives of millions of Puerto Ricans who would otherwise be targets of opportunity in a war with the American republic.

A lot has been said about the recent news reports about Puerto Ricans being arrested for Social Security Disability fraud. That investigation and those arrests were appropriate and will serve to deter others from committing such fraud in the future. Fraud hurts all of those who need those benefits.

Meanwhile, a lot has been also been reported on Puerto Ricans getting disability because they couldn’t speak English even though the commonwealth education department receives billions in federal tax dollars. That simply proves again that throwing money at a problem is not the solution. It also proves the insanity of big government.

The Social Security Administration however, has another problem. Its problem is named inequality, otherwise known as discrimination. More specifically it relates to how the SSA refuses to pay benefits or is paying lower benefits to American citizens just because they move to or live in Puerto Rico.

Allow me to explain. If you pay into Social Security all your life and retire or become disabled, you get paid by social security a full set of benefits. If you earn below a certain amount or your benefits are low you can also receive Supplemental Security Income or SSI. This is the same for working class people and the rich and the poor. It is also true in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Regardless of whether you were born in Puerto Rico or in the mainland United States if you move to Puerto Rico while on Social Security and associated programs, your benefits drop. This is just because Puerto Rico is a territory and the U.S. Congress has not made an adjustment to ensure the American citizens of Puerto Rico are treated equally with their fellow citizens virtually world wide.

A Social Security retirement recipient can move to nearly any country on the earth and get their full retirement benefits. There are a few exceptions; for example, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and the former Soviet States not including Russia. Wait, what????

So Puerto Rico, a part of the United States for more than 100 years; is listed just above North Korea when it comes to social security benefits, but Puerto Ricans are listed below Venezuela, Argentina, and Sandanista controled Nicarauga? Puerto Ricans can go to Africa with few exceptions, India, even Afghanistan; and receive full retirement benefits, but not at home?

Across from the Capital building in Puerto Rico is a very solemn memorial. A half circle black wall that lists the names of all Puerto Rican’s who have died fighting in American wars. Does their blood count for less than other Americans?

Social Security’s answer is yes. The blood of Puerto Ricns is worth far less. Despite denials, social security retirement benefits are lower for people living in Puerto Rico.

The discrimination extends to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. No one living outside the United States can receive SSI. Anyone residing in Puerto Rico and USVI can not receive SSI because despite their sacrifice and paying into the tax system both territories are considered ‘outside the US.’ Meanwhile, residents of the Northern Marianas islands CAN receive SSI even though that territory is much farther away from the U.S. mainland. How does this make sense?

The irony is that social security taxes and associated programs are the only federal income based taxes that residents in Puerto Rico are charged. That is to say they pay just like any other American, but get treated less than American’s living abroad. While many will call this a status issue and have a valid point, this is a matter of discrimination against individuals who have paid the tax and are then being shorted benefits.

Whether you support statehood, independence or continued commonwealth it is high time to demand equal treatment for all U.S. citizens residing in the American commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is right for the federal government go after those who get benefits illegally, but isn’t it wrong to refuse to pay benefits to those who have played by the rules and paid their share of the tax burden?

»Equality Is the Issue for Puerto Rico22/04/15 19:06 from Mike Nova's Shared Newslinksmikenova shared this story from Puerto Rico Report. By now, it is probable that everyone concerned about Puerto Rico’s status has seen , read about, and discussed John Oliver’s take on voting rights in U.S. territories. Julio Ricardo Var...

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